STUART, Fla. – The state of Florida announced a new charge of felony attempted murder for the man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump at a golf course.
During a news conference Wednesday in Stuart, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced that the warrant had been filed in Martin County and that the new charge stemmed from the near-death of a 6-year-old girl.
Prosecutors said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15 at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent opened fire on Routh, causing him to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.
He was arrested a short time later while driving on I-95.
Moody said that Routh’s actions endangered the life of the girl, who was seriously injured in a crash that happened during a traffic stop.
“We felt compelled to seek justice on her behalf and her family that will never be the same as they cope with her injuries,” said Moody.
Moody also noted a lack of cooperation from the federal government. In October, Florida filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department to stop federal authorities from blocking the state’s investigation into the second attempted assassination.
Moody was joined by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass. Gov. Ron DeSantis was scheduled to be in attendance but was unable to attend due to weather impacting travel.
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